Nishikori Cruises Into the Fourth Round

Japanese 16th seed Kei Nishikori continued his impressive run at the Australian Open, dismantling Russia’s Evgeny Donskoy 7-6(3), 6-2, 6-3 in two hours and six minutes to reach the fourth round.

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Kei Nishikori is into the final 16 at the Australian Open

The 23-year-old won 77% of his first serves and made 29 winners compared with his opponent’s tally of 13.

“I think I’m in good shape,” smiled Nishikori, adding that his confidence is growing with each victory.

Nishikori’s next opponent is fourth seed David Ferrer who sailed through his third round clash against 28th seed Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 6-2, 6-3.

“Ferrer is playing well. He’s always tough to play, he gets every ball and [is] not easy to beat,” said Japan’s top-ranked male. He holds a head-to-head advantage of 2-1 over the 30 year-old Spaniard.

Their most recent encounter was in the fourth round of the London 2012 Olympics, where Nishikori triumphed 6-0, 3-6, 6-4.

“It’s going to be a very physical match,” said Ferrer. “I will have to play my best tennis to beat him because he’s a very great player…I think Kei is going to be top 10 soon,” said the world number five.

Also on Friday, veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm won her fourth match in four days, later describing her results so far this week as miraculous.

The 42-year-old and her Spanish partner Arantxa Parra Santonja upset the world No. 2 women’s doubles team of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka, of the Czech Republic, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 in two hours and 10 minutes.

“I’m happy Kimiko is doing well…[it’s] amazing how much she can play,” said Nishikori.

Date-Krumm takes on Serbia’s Bojana Jovanovski in a third round singles match on Saturday.

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